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District Set For FFA Week

NEW BREMEN — The Future Farmers of America (FFA) have a full week of activities planned, as the New Bremen chapter of the organization is celebrating National FFA Week.

National FFA Week, which is being celebrated from Feb. 18-25 this year, gives members a chance to educate the public about agriculture, according to the FFA website. The week is celebrated annually and always includes George Washington’s birthday, a decision made by the National FFA Board of Directors in 1947, according to the website.

New Bremen FFA Adviser Katy McGovern said the chapter uses the week to promote itself and all the FFA has to offer students.

“It promotes our chapter, community service and student development,” she said.

New Bremen FFA members have a week full of activities, starting today with cow tongue football, in which members will play flag football with a cow tongue. On Wednesday, members will show their appreciation for New Bremen High School teachers and staff.

“On Wednesday we do a teacher and staff appreciation because we do so much and take the students out of class,” McGovern said, noting that the teachers and staff will be treated to breakfast. “This year, Dannon is going to donate 120 yogurts and that helps us cut back on our costs.”

On Wednesday, FFA members will also celebrate with a chapter game day, in which the students will participate in various yard games including hillbilly golf and corn-hole.

“The kids can see each other and have some fun,” McGovern said of the chapter game day.

On Thursday, the FFA will host its annual Red Cross Blood Drive, open to all high school students over the age of 16. This year, the group has a goal to donate 42 units of blood to the Red Cross, and McGovern noted that the school should not have an issue meeting the goal — more than 60 students have signed up to donate.

“The kids are really active and excited and they’re participating,” McGovern said of the amount of students signed up to participate in the drive. “It’s great.”

In addition to donating blood in the drive, students also have the opportunity to help run it.

“The kids help out by running the canteen and getting people signed in,” McGovern said.

The members will wrap up National FFA Week on Friday with tractor/truck day, in which members will bring tractors or trucks to display in front of the high school.

“It’s a way to display that it’s National FFA Week,” McGovern said.

Throughout the week, FFA chapters in Auglaize County will also be hosting a food drive.

“We’re partnering with the Auglaize County Farm Bureau and all the other Auglaize County FFAs for a food drive,” McGovern said, noting that the food will stay in Auglaize County. “We’re collecting boxed and canned food in grades k-12.”

McGovern noted that the New Bremen chapter has a goal to collect 400 items.

“If we meet that goal, they get a cookout,” she said.

She added that the chapter that collects the most weight receives a $100 award and each chapter also receives $50 for participating in the drive.